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“Oh, it is. Most enjoyable.” He smiled. “However, I’m undecided on a theme. Past years I’ve dabbled with witches and warlocks. The trope of vampire and maiden has been done far too often. As has the devil and his sacrifice. I want to do something different this year. Do you have any suggestions?”
Climbing to my feet, I snagged the laptop and tucked it under my arm. “None, sorry. I don’t really have the imagination for party events.”
“You have plenty of imagination, my friend.” Victor snickered. “I’ve only read a few paragraphs of your book, but I must say, I’m very intrigued to read more.”
I drifted toward the door.
I needed Ily.
Being in the library with Vic reminded me of our very first day here. The hope in her eyes as she asked if I was a cop. The heat in her skin as I spanked her with a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo.
My cock swelled.
I subtly rearranged it.
I’d intended to leave her in the jewel quarters for the afternoon, but fuck it.
I couldn’t relax unless she was near.
Victor followed me as I strode in black flip flops, jeans, and a grey cable-knit jumper through the archway and into the chilly stone corridor. “No suggestions at all? Come now. You’re far better at this than I am.”
“Told you.” I threw him a look. “Not a party planner.”
“I know. But…” He bumped his shoulder with mine as we walked toward the heart of his citadel. “How about Lycans and…something? Or fae and…?” He snickered. “Some sort of monster perhaps? We could order in some more toys to play with. Perhaps even put on a show?”
Fighting my reaction to get away from him, I forced myself to be friendly. Stopping as we entered the large airy foyer, I smiled. “Do you even need a theme? All your games are epic, Vic. You’re the one with the great imagination for this sort of stuff, not me. I mean…” I whistled under my breath. “Amethyst Anguish that we played last week? Fuck me, that was hot.”
“Oh you liked that, did you?” He tapped his nose with a conspiratorial smirk. “I must admit, I came up with that playing with one of my previous favourites about eight years ago. A beautiful little submissive called Skye. She was so timid, so shy. I think a part of me fell for her—I’m a sucker for the fragile. One night, she seemed a little…tired from our previous excursions, so I decided to be nice for once. I teased her with feathers, flower petals, that sort of thing. She slowly grew so relaxed and dreamy, she no longer even knew I was there.”
His eyes flashed. “I didn’t like that, of course. I wanted her to be aware I was the one giving her pleasure instead of drifting off. So…I hit her with a cane.” He laughed. “She came back to earth with a bang, let me tell you.”
I nodded along, eyes wide with fake respect and awe. “It was definitely a power trip. Ily did the same thing.”
“I was watching you while I played with Rachel. I did notice your little nightmare was a sobbing, soaking mess by the end of it.” He grinned. “What did you use again?”
“For soft, I used my fingertips. For hard, I used the tawse.”
“Ah, one of my favourites. Did you know that split leather strap was still used in classrooms when I was a boy? I got swatted a few times in my youth.”
I laughed. “I didn’t know what it was until that night.” Lowering my voice, making it seem as if I confided a secret, I added, “I loved that Ily’s anguish came from not knowing what I’d deliver. It was genius to blindfold and ear-plug the jewels before playing. Ily had no idea if my fingers would pet or the tawse would punish. It turned me the fuck on watching her body sway toward mine hoping for soft only to flinch when I chose pain instead.”
“Ah, Henri.” He patted my cheek. “If only I didn’t have a son on the way. It would’ve been an honour to have you as my heir.” He dropped his hand, his face almost wistful. “Tell you what…I’m not getting any younger. If I don’t live to educate my son in all the ways he will rule, would you be open to it?”
I froze. “Y-You want me to teach your son?”
“As his guardian…yes. His godfather if you will.” His eyes grew serious and tinged with sadness. “You have no one. I have no one. No one else I’d rather ask anyway. So…what do you say?”
A pang in my chest.
A complex mixture of loathing and…loss.
I was a monster’s bastard.
I’d been raised far different than most children.
I suffered the ramifications of that curse daily.
And the thought of Victor’s child going through what I did?
